The impeachment bid against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, suffered a setback on Monday as the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, declined the request of the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate the governor.
Justice Amadi, in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, explained that his refusal was based on subsisting court orders restraining him from taking any action in respect of the impeachment process.
According to the Chief Judge, the court orders, issued by the Rivers State High Court following suits filed by Governor Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, expressly bar him from receiving, considering, or acting on any resolution or notice from the House of Assembly regarding the constitution of an investigative panel.
He further noted that the interim injunctions, granted on January 16, 2026, remain in force, adding that the House of Assembly has since filed an appeal against the orders at the Court of Appeal, a development which, he said, makes it legally improper for him to proceed in the matter.
Justice Amadi stressed that as Chief Judge, he is bound to uphold the rule of law and comply with valid court orders until they are set aside by a competent court.
The Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier resolved to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, accusing them of gross misconduct, including alleged budgetary violations, unauthorised expenditure, and failure to properly engage the legislature.
With the Chief Judge’s decision, the impeachment process has been effectively halted, pending the determination of the legal challenges surrounding the court orders.
The development further deepens the political tension in Rivers State, where relations between the executive and the legislature have remained strained in recent months.
